incorrect, that is not the start of the trail

OOhhh, I like a disagreement :D … it is the start of Dowies but you put in a bonus bit before the original starting point so you are indeed correct saying that it isn't the start of the 'trail' :wink: :wink:

I notice that a link has been made between the top of what we call The Skull Trail [the one in the video above which Dowie laid out as an alternative to his original trail] and the Bigfoot Trail [laid out by Bigfoot MTB club] which exits onto the track opposite the start of Dowies 2.

Hopefully all will not be lost in the felling going on at the moment but I'm sure Dowie as an ex Forestry Contractor may be keeping an eye on things…

The main thing is, they're doing it and they're doing it for a good cause.
Whether they're doing it for the right reasons or just to place themselves in the public eye is always open to speculation with 'celebrities' but who cares as long as they raise money.

To us 'cyclists' it may appear not much of a challenge but to 'non cyclists' even 3 hours in the saddle on consecutive days can be, erm, chafing 8O

The Red Lion in Llanbedr is a nice pub, they just don't like muddy kit inside! Boots off, clean kit OK otherwise sit outside :(

Brown Trousers – ex Green Laner, mcobie??

Charlie the Bikemonger's your man

Working today, Wye Valley tommorrow.

Have a good stir-fry in FoD you wokmeisters 8) (nice covering of white icing here this morning, should be gone by tommorrow though)

I just did 1:45 while sitting on the loo, I reckon I could have got to 2mins if my life depended on it but it was starting to feel unpleasant and I needed a poo.

Try again sat on a stool…? :D

…and she still beat me.

Aye, but she probably had bouyancy aids 8O

53 secs [stood at work], 52 yr. old ex heavy smoker, male

Also we should reintroduce wild boar to make riding more exciting

You must visit us for a ride in the Forest of Dean sometime sfb :-)

I've had a few unfortunate interfaces with dogs belonging to people-who-think-everyone-loves-their-dog on cyclepaths, equally I've ridden with people who've had their dog along for the day and it's been no problem whatsoever. These rides have been on natural trails in the open countryside though.

We always use the Lansdown one too. A46 from the motorway junction, turn right at the Toll Gate cafe, right / left at staggered X-roads at end, then follow nose to the P&R on top of the hill just past the RaceCourse.

They can last a while though [making them more environmentally friendly] – I am still using some that are at least 41 years old 8O

Made me chuckle too :lol:

I know they've got my contact details and all that but how the hell did they find out about my s_s_s_tutter… :?

I've met quite a few off here over the years but my big problem is that I'm useless at recognising people again or remembering names. Probably appear a right ignorant barsteward sometimes… Sorry :oops:

You do all realise that there is NO SUCH THING as a Singlespeed MTB. When MTBs were invented they took a single-geared beach cruiser, put gears on it and rode it into the mountains. Therefore there can be no point… ;-)

Thank you for bringing this sad news to our attention; my sincerest condolences to Iain's family.

I too had dealings with him and it was always a pleasure.

Rugby please – 'rugger' is surely only said by people that wear a clean Barbour and I'm sure wouldn't have been uttered by Mr McLaren :wink:

One of the all time legendary commentators of any sport since broadcasting began – great memories of his commentaries over the decades -he will be sadly missed!

Have to agree; a sad day indeed.

Sun Visor? That's for deflecting the rain that comes though between the windscreen and the roof from you!

After having continuously owned and driven numerous models from 1955 Series I onwards over the last 30 odd years, my current 90 is like a luxury limousine. My good lady struggles to get in without a step ~ not sure if that's a plus point or not… :?

Limited space in the back of a Ninety as has been said.

I can get one bike in fully assembled diagonally. Any more and front wheels at the very least will need to come off. A OneTen is much more practical.

My standard diesel will happily cruise at 70mph + despite Hora's input :roll:

As many will tell you, driving a Land Rover is an acquired taste; don't expect it to be like your average car. It's not!

Cos it's really special, rare, etc.. ! :wink:

I've got an ex-display Litespeed mtb from back in the early 90s that has no number. Some bikes have the number on the dropouts, some have no number. Don't know if there was ever any standardisation of numbering so your 3 digits could indeed be the frame number.

He's probably using double loop socks, a favourite of us old-timers :wink: 'Available from all reputable walking gear shops'

Unless of course, no one has any leaky gutters anymore.

Bet there'll be a few broken gutters in the weeks to come what with the weight of snow on them at the moment.

Sounds like it's lucky that you're a good enough driver to have got out of their way.

Keep going Hora with your list of possibilities and then you'll understand why the experts can't immediately say what it is. :roll:

If it's recently serviced, your antifreeze should be fine. For 3 – 4 weeks there shouldn't be any need to fire it up or move it. As said above, let the handbrake off and put it in gear to stop handbrake seizing. If possible, lay a blanket / sackcloth over the engine for extra insulation (but remove before you do start it up again!). Above advice if from my company's mechanic :-)

I don't remember '63 (I was only 6) but '81 I remember well and we've got a way to go in this area (Forest of Dean)to beat that one. I also remember a year (but can't remember which!) since '81 when the temeperature in this area didn't rise above freezing for the whole of February.

I don't think it's a case of not being able to cope these days, more a case of expecting too much.

Nope, ditched the bike in favour of driving.

8" snow on lanes to my house, frozen snow on my usual commute makes it just too 'interesting' and the road part of my commute I feel too exposed because the snow has reduced the width to about 1 1/2 car-widths of icy compressed snow :(

Check if there's another snowplough approaching in the opposite direction before overtaking.

But… wait til its passed :roll:

BYe-ee :!:

Hi jim29, very generally (!), to drive in snow it helps to get the power down smoothly and to slow down / control speed by engine braking. An automatic can supply drive to the wheels very smoothly (often more so than a manual) and gears can be locked out where necessary to control speed. The more relevant part in my post is probably the "down to the driver" bit :wink: A driver trained or experienced in mud & snow driving will get the best out of either automatic or manual.

– being an auto he cant control anything…

I'm afraid that's down to the driver (and as said above, the tyres); an auto driven well can often outperform a manual in mud and snow.

Smug claim to fame – I delivered the rolling chassis for the 2nd conversion Drew Bowler ever did, up to his blacksmiths forge in Derbyshire back in the 80s. He's moved on a bit since then!

Fair dump of snow in Herefordshire earlier this afternoon but main roads passable with care (earlier). Snowing lightly in Monmouth at the moment but not settling although it is settling on the hills around the town. As said above, forecast is for heavy snow in SE Wales tonight.

Give them a ring / email to check on conditions. Be great if you fight your way down from Chester but they don't make it into work locally :?

That was going to be my 2nd choice… :wink:

Start of Motorbike Trail pictures 2 & 3 ?

Right mixture of ice/frozen mud/dry pine needles/slushy mud melt/greasy roots out in FoD today. Glad you had a good ride, not too many 'dabs' I hope. I had a minor 'dab' into a muddy rut, oooh, say 2 ft deep laid on my side still clipped in :oops:

Good to meet you Rickos, we'll have to sort some rides out of Monmouth.

If you're running it geared I'd set the axle as far into the dropouts as it will go then you don't have to worry about alignment or slippage (you probably won't notice any great difference in stability [longer wheelbase] / climbing ability [shorter chainstay] within the length of a sliding dropout).

…there are so many riders it's hard to go wrong.

Problem is, half of them are lost too :roll:

In addition to many previously listed I would add:

A Star is Born [Strangely not available on DVD afik]
Lawrence of Arabia

Will be missing it this year unfortunately; will be busy involved with a certain European Championship just down the road in FoD the following weekend.

As Pete says, you can choose what distance you do on the hoof but,whatever you do, do not miss out on the cake!!

Cheers dude!